The Funeral Singer

This book is about the life of a Chinese countryside funeral singer. His name was Han Lao-lao, also known as La-la. Rulers have come and gone without changing their traditional ways. Then, in 1949, the Communists defeated the Nationalists and took power in China, bringing a completely new way of life. Some things have been slow to change. To the superstitious population, the slightest involvement in the handling of a dead member of another family will bring bad luck. Before burial was outlawed in favour of cremation, one professional built up such a high reputation, his participation became an obligatory part of every funeral. He was La-la, the funeral singer, and if he was not involved in a funeral, the deceased family lost much face. Educationally illiterate, La-la inherited a wonderful voice and a gift for people. His songs are known as “on the road ballads” and he never sang a song more than once, making every funeral as individual as the life just ended. For all of his working life, La-la enjoyed the enviable position of knowing that every family would need him at some time, and yet, whilst everybody knew how important his job was, nobody wanted it. This is his story, told with love and respect.